The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the Health Sector in Abuja, marking the start of formal negotiations with key health workers’ unions on welfare, salaries, and working conditions.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who inaugurated the committee, said the initiative was part of government efforts to establish a fair and sustainable framework for the health workforce.
“The convocation of this committee is a milestone towards building a fair and sustainable framework for our health workforce,” Pate said.
He emphasised that health workers remain central to the mission of delivering quality healthcare in Nigeria, noting that it is the government’s duty to address their needs with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect.
Pate urged all stakeholders to enter the negotiations with good faith, a spirit of compromise, and a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, also addressed the gathering, describing collective bargaining as a proven route to industrial peace and sectoral stability.
“Through this process, we intend to find common ground that ensures the welfare of our health workers while safeguarding the public’s access to uninterrupted, quality healthcare,” Dingyadi said.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described the committee’s inauguration as a critical step in the government’s wider health sector reform agenda.
“By listening to the voices of our health professionals, we are not just negotiating terms; we are shaping the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” Salako noted.
The negotiations, according to government officials, will involve structured engagements with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), among others. Discussions are expected to cover remuneration, working conditions, professional development, and the overall welfare of health workers.
Also present at the event were officials from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office of the Federation.
